DEFENDER Dexter Franklin and goalkeeper Marvin Phillip have left San Juan Jabloteh and Defence Force, respectively, and have returned to the fold at San Fernando Starworld Strikers for the upcoming T&T Pro League season.
Starworld were one of three teams whose applications to enter the 2006 competition were being discussed yesterday by the Board of the T&T Pro League.
T&T Pro League chief executive officer Dexter Skeene said yesterday the Pro League Board had a meeting to discuss the applications of Starworld, Superstar Rangers and WASA Clean & White to fill two vacant positions to enter the 2006 T&T Pro League competition.
However, after meeting with several people earlier, Starworld owner Ashmeed Ali is convinced his team is already in.
Starworld missed last season due to financial difficulties.
"We have had several meetings with various people. As far as I am concerned we are in the Pro League," Ali declared. "The team is training and we have an excellent squad drawn from the youth programme. They have developed now."
Ali also announced a slight name change, adding San Fernando to the former name Starworld Strikers as a means to better identify with their community.
Based at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, San Fernando Starworld Strikers have also seen the addition of Andre Charles, Errol Charles, Lindsay Sherwood and Marlon Stoute to the fold.
Striker Kester Cornwall, Atiba Forde and Anton Ramnarine are all going through fitness tests before joining the team, while Guyana striker Randolph Jerome is due to return from New York.
Jerome, a former Pro League top-scorer, played in Lebanon for a large part of last season.
Also rejoining Starworld on the technical staff is national goalkeeper coach Michael Maurice, while ex-T&T player Wesley Webb is the team's manager.